Grand Portage Indian Reservation
The Grand Portage Indian Reservation (Ojibwe language: Gichi-onigamiing) is the Indian reservation of the Grand Portage Band of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, a federally recognized tribe in Minnesota.
The reservation is in Cook County near the tip of Minnesota's Arrowhead Region in the extreme northeast part of the state. Historically, the community was considered part of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa but is not a party to the treaties that group signed. The reservation was established as part of the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe.
The unincorporated community of Grand Portage is located within the Grand Portage Indian Reservation.
Since 1934, Grand Portage has been one of the six bands of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, which wrote a constitution and initiated its new government in 1936. In the federal 2020 census, the reservation had a population of 618.[1] The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe reported in July 2007 that Grand Portage had 1,127 people enrolled in the band.[2]
Geography edit
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Grand Portage reservation has a total area of 75.7 square miles (196 km2), of which 74.47 square miles (192.9 km2) is land and 1.23 square miles (3.2 km2) is water.[3] The Grand Portage Band also had 0.056 square miles (36 acres; 0.15 km2) of off-reservation trust land as of 2020.
Demographics edit
As of the census of 2020,[1] the total population living on the reservation was 618. The population density was 8.3 inhabitants per square mile (3.2/km2). There were 328 housing units at an average density of 4.4 per square mile (1.7/km2). The racial makeup of the reservation was 63.1% Native American, 24.3% White, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, and 11.5% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.8% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Economy edit
The community operates a casino, the Grand Portage Lodge and Casino. The Grand Portage National Monument is located on the reservation and managed by the National Park Service. The site includes a reconstructed trading post which is authentic for the 18th century.
In 2000, Minnesota returned ownership of the 300-acre (1.2 km2) Grand Portage State Park to the Chippewa Band, which was lost more than 50 years ago in a tax forfeiture. In a unique arrangement in the state, this is the only state park to be managed jointly by the state and an American Indian band. The park includes a 120-foot high waterfall, which has been a landmark for centuries. The band employs its members as staff of the park.[4]
Notable Grand Portage citizens edit
- George Morrison (1919–2000), painter, sculptor
See also edit
- Grand Portage National Monument
- Grand Portage, Minnesota – Unorganized Territory of Cook County
- Grand Portage (community), Minnesota – Unincorporated community located within both the reservation and unorganized territory
- Minnesota Indian Affairs Council
References edit
- ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census: Grand Portage Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, MN". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ . The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-01-22.
- ^ "2020 Gazetteer Files". census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ Dennis Lien, "Group Returns Land to Chippewa Band", first published in Saint Paul Pioneer Press,, carried at Canku Ota, 30 December 2000, Issue 26 (online newsletter)
External links edit
- Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- Grand Portage Lodge & Casino